Bruno Fernandes claims Man United must win the FA Cup 'to make the season not look as bad' after sur

Bruno Fernandes has suggested Manchester United need to save face with FA Cup glory this campaign, claiming it would ‘make the season not look as bad’.

United looked rusty as they surrendered a two-goal lead before edging past League Two side Newport County 4-2 in the fourth round on Sunday.

And Fernandes, who opened the scoring in the win at Rodney Parade, insisted United have to make amends for losing the final 2-1 last season to Manchester City.

‘Our chance to win a trophy this season is the FA Cup and we have to give everything to get into the final step by step and game by game,’ United’s captain said.

‘But we know that to make the season look not as bad as we have to win.

Bruno Fernandes insisted Manchester United need to win the FA Cup to save their season

The pain of losing last year’s final to rivals Manchester City remains fresh in the memory 

United battled to a 4-2 win a Newport County but it was far from a convincing performance 

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‘We have to try to win this trophy because it’s important for us we have been in the final last year unfortunately didn’t get the trophy and we know how much how much it means, the FA Cup, for our fans, for our club, for the country. 

‘So we know how important it is. And it’s important for us too because we want to  get in to the final again and win.’

The FA Cup is their only realistic chance of winning a competition this season. United are out of the Champions League and Carabao Cup, so there’s zero chance of winning those, and sitting eighth in the Premier League 16 points off the pace dosn’t bode well. 

Fernandes scored after just seven minutes against Newport and Kobbie Mainoo doubled the lead not long after with his first United goal as they made a flying start at Rodney Parade. 

But the spirit of giant-killing fell upon Newport and goals from Bryn Morris and Will Evans either side of the break infused the Welsh club with the belief that an upset could be on the cards.

Ultimately it wasn’t, as Antony scored in the 68th minute and Rasmus Hojlund sealed the deal in the 94th, but it was a patchy performance from Erik ten Hag’s side, who dominated possession but afforded 17 chances to their opponents. 

Alan Shearer praised Hojlund for battling away up top on his own.

He said: ‘It’s frustrating at times, playing in that team, because I’m not quite sure when the ball is coming in.

‘But you’ve got to keep going, and he did that and he got his goal. He deserved it.’

Fernandes opened the scoring and scored a 7.5 in Mail Sport’s player ratings for the match

Indeed, United were reliant on their forwards to find an extra gear after allowing Newport back into the game. 

Fernandes, clearly frustrated with the performance, also said: ‘We have to be more focused in the second half. We can’t concede another goal and let them have some belief. We have to kill the game straightaway in the first half, we had chances to make the three-nil.’

United will face either Bristol City or Nottingham Forest in the fifth round of the competition after surviving a scare to secure victory at Rodney Parade.

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